Our Coaches

Stone Master Marathoners has a wealth of coaching talent to help nurture and support your running goals. From total beginner to seasoned racer, we’re happy to guide you in progressing your running training at any level. Meet our coaches:

Bill Clarke

As former Club Captain and lifelong runner, many at our club will have had first hand contact with Bill as they progressed through the Beginner group. Recording superb personal times at a range of distances over the years, Bill now focuses his efforts on supporting our new Bats on both the Thursday and 9.30am Sunday runs.

Bill’s key message for anyone thinking of starting running is to come along and give the Club a chance. You don’t need to have any prior running experience and can be a total beginner – he has nurtured many of our keen Club members from nervous new starters and has a wealth of experience in looking after you when you first come along.

Bill is a firm favourite throughout the membership, his unique style of mentoring shining through. He welcomes anyone thinking about starting their running career to come along to the Thursday session – you won’t regret it!

John Clemens (JC)

John’s running career spans 40 years, from 1970 to 2010, and his passions lay mostly in fell racing and long distance challenges. He’s been involved with race organisation since 1980 and organised the British Fell Running Championship in the early 80’s, to great effect.

His coaching began with a group at SMM for about 6 years, before moving on to more formal coaching qualifications. With training funded by both Stafford Borough Council and Stone Master Marathoners, JC started in 2005 and he qualified at Level 2 in 2006. He’s worked with coaches from other clubs, including Newcastle AC and is also a qualified race official and UKA Race Adjudicator.

Without doubt, John has a lifelong pedigree of running and coaching that can benefit any member. You’ll often find him at the Bat Cave after Club Runs (he tends to cycle now so you won’t see him during the run) or at races encouraging our many keen runners. Be sure to grab a few minutes of his time – he’ll be happy to help you.

Bill McAuliffe

Affectionately referred to as Bill Mac, Bill McAuliffe is a keen runner with a long history of coaching. His starting point was a Level 3 ‘Sports and Recreation’ qualification back in the 80’s and he’s since gained well over 30 years experience, supporting people both one-to-one and in small groups. He’s previously taught gym at Northwood Stadium alongside a bit of physio here and there. Feel free to catch up with Bill via Facebook or chat to him on a club run and he’ll be happy to help you achieve your goals.

Bill also graces our airwaves with a monthly running special show on 6 Towns Radio as well as a weekly show called the Tea and Cake show on Lasar Radio, 7-9pm on Sundays. It’s a light-hearted couple of hours that features a running section and discusses local races, hints and tips for training… all things running, basically. Check it out!